MLB claims Frank McCourt looted $189M from Dodgers

AP

This is an oct. 7, 2009, file photo showing Los Angeles Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt before Game 1 of the National League division baseball series with the St. Louis Cardinals, in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong)

"Major League Baseball is trying to use the case to say this shows us that the ownership is putting its interest ahead of the fans and the team," said law expert Robert Rasmussen, dean of the USC Gould School of Law.

The league also claims McCourt broke 10 league rules, any of them grounds for terminating his franchise. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig wants to oust McCourt.

McCourt denies the charges.

"Once again, MLB has mischaracterized the facts with inflammatory allegations that are not supported by the evidence," the Dodgers said in a statement. "As the Commissioner knows and as our legal documents have clearly shown, he approved and praised the structure of the team about which he belatedly complains. We look forward to the opportunity to show the truth next week in court."

Dodgers season ticket holders now have an official voice in the bankruptcy case, winning two seats on the team's creditors committee.

Attorneys argued in the motion that season ticket holders had invested millions of dollars in the team and deserved an official voice in the bankruptcy